Precious-metal reclaimer



H. O. -DUERR El AL PRECIOUS METAL RECLAIMER Oct. 5 1926.

Filed Sept. 15, 1924 4 r I f E: E2

INVEN TORS A TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 5, 1926.

caries stares Parser series.

HARRY o. DUERR AND FRANK N. BROWN, 5a., or an riiso, TEXAS; SAID Dunne ASSIGNOR T0 SAID BROWN- PRECIOUS-METAL RECLAIMER.

Our invention relates to the recovering of finely divided precious metals which are found in the waste waters flowing from the basins attached to dental chairs or other operating apparatus, also from wash and waste basins of manufacturers in precious metal arts; and our invention is for the purpose of reclaiming such metals as may be found deposited in such waste waters.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing areclaimer embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the reclaimer,

Figure 3 is a View, partly in side elevationand partly in vertical section, showing 'an upper screen member which is comprised in the reclaimer,

Figure 4: is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a tubular suspension member which is comprised in the reclaimer,

Figure'5 is a View similar to Figures 3 and 4;, showing a lower screen member and a split) retaining ring in the upper part of said lower screen member, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, showing the means for supporting the lower screen member and an inner ba The reclaimer comprises a tubular shell 1 which is made of a non-corrosive metal. The tubular shell 1 has a reduced lower end portion 1 constituting an outlet. The upper end of the shell 1 is covered by a cap 2 which preferably has internal screw threads on the inner wall of the body thereof in engagement at 10 with external screw threads on the upper end portion of the shell 1." The cap 2 is formed with a central opening from which an internally screw threaded nipple 2 is upstanding, the nipple 2* being adapted for connection with the lower end portion of a waste pipe, not shown, which may depend from a basin that is associated with a dental chair or the nipple 2 may be attached to any other suitable source of sup ply of liquid containing metals which are to be reclaimed. A screen that is adapted to be disposed in the upper part of the shell 1 has a substantially cylindrical body 8 that is closed at its lower end by a foraminous lower headS' The body .3 of the screen which will behereinafter refer-red to as the upper screenv is considerably shorter than.

the shell 1 and is provided at its upper end with an -upwardly extending flange 3 which is of sufiicient size to extend outwardly at the upper end of the shell 1 between the latter and the head of the cap 2. This upper screen is made of fine mesh non-corrosive metal.

A tubular suspension member 4 fits within the' upper' part ofthe shell 1 in encircling relation to the body of the upper screen. The suspension member 4; has an outwardly extending flange i at its upper end which is of sufiicient size to extend atfithe upper end of the shell 1 between the latter and the flange of the upper screen. The tubular suspension member a is slightly longer than the body of the upper screen and is formed with an inwardly extending flange 4 at its lower end. This tubular suspension member 4 preferably is made of a non-corrosive metal. 5

A lower screen which is adapted to be disposed in the lower part of the shell 1 has a.

substantially cylindrical body 5 that is closed at its lower end by a lower head 5 the parts '5 and 5 of the lower screen being made of a suitable non-corrosive metal. The body 5 of the lower screen is secured at its upper edge, as by means of solder, to a ring 5 having an outwardly extending flange -5 at its upper end. This flange '5 overlaps the-inwardly extending flange 1, whereby the'lower screen will be suspended from the suspension member 4. a

Aii'lte-ring bag 6 made of finely woven I fabric fits within the lower screen and is held in place in the latter by means of 3-18- taining ring 7 which preferably is a split ring made of non-corrosive metal and which serves to connect the upper edge 'portion'of the body of the bag against the inner face of the ring 5% above a stop ring '5' which is secured, as by means of solder, to the inner face of the lower screen body at the lower edge of the ring5 whereby the bag -6 will be held open at its upper end within the lower screen. The bag of course is closed at its lower end, as shown. pp

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation may be readily understood. The nipple 2 is connected to a suitable source of supply of liquid which contains the metals which are to be reclaimed. A waste pipe, not shown, may be connected with the outlet 1 and may lead to a sewer or other suitable place. The matter which enters the reclaimer through the nipple 2 passes into the upper screen. The coarser metallic particles will be retained within the upper screen while the finer particles and the liquid will pass through the walls of the upper screen into the filtering bag 6 which will retain the finer particles of precious metal, allowing the water to pass through the walls of the bag and through the lower screen into the shell 1 and thence through the outlet 1" to any suitable place. The lower screen not only serves to support the bag when the bag is fully open and extended as shown in the drawing, but this lower screen also will catch any metallic particles which might for some reason pass through the walls of the bag, as for example, through an opening that a sharp metallic particle might cut in a wall of the filtering bag.

The specific embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in the drawings may be modified by omitting the upper screen and by lengthening the lower screen and the bag 6 to practically fill the space within the tubular shell 1, in which event the tubular suspension member 4 would be correspondingly shortened or possibly dispensed with.

We claim: 5 a

1. A reclaimer for metal comprising a tubular shell having a reduced outlet at its lower end, means for connecting the upper end of the tubular shell with a conduit for waste liquid, a screen adapted to be supported within said tubular shell, said screen comprising a substantially cylindrical body closed at its lower end and having an outwardly extending flange at its upper end, suspension means removably clamped against the upper end of said tubular shell for supporting said screen within thetubular shell, a bag made of fabric, said bag fitting in said screen, and means holding said bag open and connecting the mouth of said bag to the upper end portion of said screen. I v

2. A reclaimer for metal comprising a tubular shell having a reduced outlet at its lower end means for connectin the u oer 9 :3

end of the tubular shell with a conduit for waste liquid, a screen adapted to be disposed within said tubular shell, said screen comprising a substantially cylindrical body closed at its lower end'and having an outwardly extending flange at its upper end, suspension means re-movably clamped against the upper end of said tubular shell for supporting said screen within the tubular shell, a bag made of fabric, said bag fitting in said screen, and a spring retaining ring fitting in the upper end portion of said bag and serving to hold the mouth of said bag open and to connect the upper edge portion the body oi the bag with the upper end portion of said screen whereby said screen will support said bag against undue distension.

end adapted, to be clamped between the head of the cap and the upper end ot the shell, said suspension'member having an inwardly extending flange at its lower end, a screen commising a substantially cylindrical body adapted to be received in the shell below the level of said suspension member, said screen body being closed at its lower end and having an outwardly extending fiange at its upper end resting on and supported by the inwardly extending flange of said suspension member, and a filtering bag fitting within the screen, the upper edge portion of the body of the bag being held in place in the upper end portion of the body of said screen.

4. A reclaimer for metal comprising a substantially cylindrical shell having a reduced lower end port-ion constituting an outlet, a cap removably secured on the upper end portio-nvot said shell, said cap having a central opening and a nipple extending upwardly from said central opening, said nipple being adapted for connection with any suitable source of supplyv of liquids which contain waste particles of metals, a tubular suspension member adapted to fit in the upper part of the shell and having an outwardly extending flange at its upper end adapted to be clamped between the head of the cap and the upper end of the shell, said suspension member having an inward- 'ly extending flange at its lower end, a screen comprising a substantially cylindrical body adapted to be received in the shell below the level 01 said suspension member, said screen body being closed at its lower'end and having an outwardly extending flange at its upper end resting on and supported by the inwardly extending flange of said suspension member, a filtering bag fitting within the screen, the upper edge portion of the body of the bag being held in place in the upper screen having an outwardly extending end portion of the body of said screen, and flange at its upper end extending between an upper screen comprising a substantially the flange at the upper end of said tubular w cylindrical body having a foraininous lower suspension member and the head of said head and adapted to fit Within the shell cap.

above said first named screen and Within 7 HARRY O. DUERR.

said tubular suspension member, said upper FRANK N. BROWN, SR. 

